Ex-Corporator Quits Uddhav’s Party, Joins BJP
After joining the BJP, Tejasvee said she had worked diligently in the Shiv Sena (UBT) and would now work harder in her new party
Mumbai: Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) suffered a jolt ahead of the Mumbai civic polls as former corporator Tejasvee Ghosalkar left the party and joined the BJP. Her husband Abhishek, who was also a corporator, was shot dead in his office in February 2024. Her father-in-law Vinod Ghosalkar is a former MLA. Tejasvee Ghosalkar was welcomed to the party by Mumbai BJP president Ameet Satam.
After joining the BJP, Tejasvee said she had worked diligently in the Shiv Sena (UBT) and would now work harder in her new party. “I will accept any responsibility given to me by the party. There are many things I wish to say, but I cannot do so at the moment,” she said.
Tejasvee also clarified that she had no issues with the Shiv Sena (UBT) top leadership and the decision to part ways with the Thackeray family was very difficult.
It appears that Tejasvee’s decision to align with the BJP is driven by a conflict within the family. She and her father-in-law were both seeking the Sena (UBT) ticket to contest the Dahisar assembly seat. Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray allowed them to resolve the candidacy amongst themselves. Ghosalkar contested the election but was unsuccessful against the BJP’s Manisha Choudhary.
The latest dispute pertains to the upcoming BMC polls. While Tejasvee wanted to contest from ward number 1 in Dahisar, her father-in-law is reportedly keen that his second son contest from the seat.
In a social media post, Tejasvee said, “Today, while doing politics, working for people, and fulfilling my family's responsibilities, I am facing immense difficulties. At such times, I repeatedly feel the need not just for a position, but for strength that supports me wholeheartedly, fearlessly, and openly. I will never say that my party or my leaders cannot give me strength. However, based on experiences of the past few years, to solve my people's problems, whether in ward number 1 or other areas, and to secure my children's future, I have to make a different decision.”
Mr. Satam asserted that Tejasvee made the move to the BJP due to the progress achieved in the last 11 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
When asked about his daughter-in-law, Vinod Ghosalkar refused to speak in detail. “From the beginning, we are clear. We don’t discuss politics at home,” he said.